The Water Box™

We purchased the water box in January of 2021 to help water about 50 cows that we try to pasture feed for most of the winter months. I found the idea from a neighbor. We went to look at it and thought this was a very innovative idea that had lots of potential to help with watering the cows. We have a creek that flows most of the winter but we have lost a few cows this way so was looking for a better solution. I contacted Courtney through their website and met Lee to pick up locally in Lamont. Both Lee and Courtney were super helpful. I brought the water box home and installed it in my dugout the next day. We feed the cows near the water box as i was installing it. They were very interested. Lee was very helpful and detailed in giving instructions on how to install. The install went very smoothly, a little wet but no wetter than chopping holes in the ice and i only had to do it once. The training of the cows to use the water box came next. It took me 3 days twice a day to train the cows to use the water box. Several times Lee contacted me to see how things were going with the water box. I was super impressed with how easy it was to use. We used the water box from the middle of January till March when we brought the cows home. We had some very very cold days during this time. Some of the days we were minus 45 with a wind chill. When I would go to check I was for sure that it would be frozen solid. It was NOT. I had a little scooper that I used to help clean out any ice chunks if there was some but most of the time it was clear. The water box allowed the cows access to water at all times. There was no line ups or pushing which allowed the cows a safe place to drink when they needed it. I cannot thank Lee enough for his support while learning to use the water box. If i had questions or concerns I knew that he was a phone call away. So I would strongly recommend the water box to anyone that is looking for solutions in watering their cows. The support from Lee was top notch and the water box is built strong to last.

This was the first year we have used the waterbox. We were sceptical about it not freezing in our -35+ temperature. We were quite surprised to find that it only had a skiff of ice which was more like slush and not a problem for the cows to continue drinking. The cows were very easy to train and it only took 3-4 days and they were opening the box themselves to drink. Very impressed with product! It is a terrific physical energy saver as there is no more chopping the dugout every day and the cows now have 24 hour access to water.

We have used The Water Box now for 3 years to water 20- 30 bulls all winter. We didn't have to worry about power or cloudy days with a solar system. Also it is portable so we can use in a different dugout if we decide to move pastures. Best part of it is the 30 seconds it takes to check and clean out if required on cold days! After installing and getting the bulls used to it(which took 3-5 days) I never seen a bull drink and they were never waiting for a drink when I went to feed them!

Once I had our Water Box I got it installed and was amazed how simple it was to install, of course the first time I learned what not to do for next time. We started the training period on our herd of 200 head and our cattle took to it like a horse takes to oats. Within the first day our older cattle were using to no problem and by day three we had cattle using it themselves at night after we'd close the lid. Our training period didn't take the full week as they took to it so well. Proving me wrong for being sceptical on how well it would work. With the cold winter the most ice I ever had on it was about 3/4 of an inch. Also with the cold weather our dugout froze down and I had to move it out farther onto the ice, once again I was amazed how easy to was to remove and reinstall. The first time I removed and reinstalled it took me 45 minutes start to finish. At this time I thought it would be a good test for our cattle cause as I was putting the box in the new hole the old hole filled up with water again and I was shocked to see our cattle line up and wait for a turn at the Water Box instead of drinking out of the open hole of water.
The greatest benefits of a water box are that cattle have 24 hour access to water, this creates another bonus that your whole herd isn't standing on the dugout waiting for you to open a hole, which then leads to less bossing and pushing around on the ice. We hardly had any lame/sore cattle this winter from them pushing around at the water hole. Our cattle would line up and wait their turn at the water box and the most that were ever usually around it was 5-6 cause they had 24 hour access to water. The biggest thing that enticed me to the water box was the simplicity of it. My wife and I ranch with my parents and my father is getting older and can't swing and axe to open a hole anymore I also have and off the ranch job so many nights or mornings I was driving to the ranch just to open the water hole. Once we got our water box Dad could maintain it day to day with me going every 4-5 days and giving it a good cleaning and scrape out. Until you see A Water Box operating first hand you can't fully understand how amazing and low maintenance they are !

To Lee Smith. I have been working and around cattle going on 60 years now! In that time I have saw cowboys invent and build things that make our life and work easier and less stressful but I will have to say that the Water Box is at the top of my list as a great asset to have! I no longer need to be chopping ice every morning but also it is a benefit to my cows as they can access the water hole 24 hrs a day all on there own ! We had to find alternative water sources for our cows to drink this winter as the drought has left our main dugout very low this year.
After I talked to Lee about a Water Box I wanted to try one in a small creek on our farm. As it turned out there was one close and put it in about 14 inches of ice with 3 feet of water below. It only took 4 to 5 days of tying the insulated lid open at various stages to get our cows trained to open the lid to access the water Now when I go over to the cows they are not all bunched up on the ice waiting for me to chop the water hole open. They are strung out in a line from feed with small bunches drinking!
No more chopping ice and happy cows! Thank You Lee for making my life better !!